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Pep Guardiola's move to bench Erling Haaland against Aston Villa was a strategic decision to rest the star striker for upcoming challenges while emphasizing the depth of Manchester City's squad. Guardiola defended his choice and highlighted the importance of managing player minutes for continued success.
Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, surprised many by benching Erling Haaland for their match against Aston Villa, clarifying that it was a strategic decision to rest the star striker amidst a busy schedule. The move came after Haaland's lackluster performance in the previous game against Arsenal.
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16:00 - 02.04.2024
For the camera and my ego — Pep explains why he openly criticises his players
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‘The problems players have now, they had too’ - Guardiola hits back at Roy Keane's criticism of Haaland
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has fired back at Roy Keane's recent criticism of Erling Haaland, asserting that the Norwegian striker is "the best striker in the world."
Guardiola Defends Resting Decision
Guardiola stood by his choice to bench Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, emphasising the necessity of managing the players' minutes for the upcoming fixtures.
He assured that City's strong squad depth allows for such decisions, highlighting the tough schedule ahead.
"Yeah, in two-and-a-half days we have another game at 12:30 (away to Crystal Palace). I think all the teams at the top have a big squad, a good squad, and of course we have it. Today we decided for this line-up for this tough opening and [we will] go for it."
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Haaland's Form and Future Fixtures
Despite criticism of Haaland's recent form, Guardiola reiterated that the decision was primarily about rotating the squad and preparing for crucial games. With matches against Crystal Palace and Real Madrid looming, City's focus remains on maintaining peak performance levels.
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